Straw hat and method of making same



Sept. 6, 1927.

. E. wlTTcoFF STRAW HAT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Nov. 1, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l [1v VENTOR [EDWARD rv/Trc OFF- BY f 5 u wa A TTORNE Y Sept. 6, 1927. 1,641,310

' E. WITTCOFF I STRAW HAT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Nov. 1, 1922 ZSheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 6, 19 27.

UETED srA'rEs p 1,641,310. PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD wrr'roorr, or s'r. Louis, MISSOURI.

Application filed November My invention relates to improvement in straw hats and method of making same, and has forits primary object a straw hat of the woven body type in which the outer surface is made ornamental and in which the hat when finished has a heavier body and is,

steamed after which it is placed overthe not so liable to crack or get outof shape.

A further object is the method of making the straw hats of the woven body type in which portions of the hat while pressed'are not subjected to as great a heat as other portions. By this method the fibers composing the hat are not sapped of their strength as is the case where the hat is exposed to an even high'temperature throughout its surface during the pressing operation.

A still further object is to construct a hat I which is of the woven body typeiri such'a mannerthat when finished it has the appearance of. the more expensive special weave sewed hat. V

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a Woven hat before being pressed with portion thereof broken away. V r

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a woven body hat with the matrix applied thereto and before being pressed. f

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my finished hat with a portion broken away showing the interior of the hat, the matrix being removed.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a hat'press showing a hat and matrix, in section in position thereon and ready for pressing.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the matrix.

Fig. 6 an enlarged fragmental view of a portion of the finished hat.

In carrying out my invention I employ a hat press comprising a frame 7 which is provided with a male forming die 8 and afemale forming die 9: these dies may be of any desiredshape and are heated by means of gas burners '10 and 11. The die 8 is secured to a frame 12 and is slidably mounted in the frame 7 and is operated upward and downward in any convenient manner,'by means of a screw 13 and wheel 14, by a lever mechanism, or by hydraulic or air pressure.

There are various forms of hat presses on the market. all of which can be used in practising my invention therefore no particular stress is laid on this part of the mechanism.

The essential of my invention eon= 'may be either straight or sinuous.

i srnAw HAT AND ErHonfoF MAKING SAME. 1

1, 1922. Serial no. 598,279.-

sists of a;hat 15 which is of the woven body type and is constructed either of sea grass, straw or similar material. In this construction the crown and brim are woven in one piece and the hat placed within a press to give it its final finish. The hat 15 is first die 8. Over this hat is then placed a matrix 16, this matrix'is of substantially the same size and shape of the hat but is woven in some special design leaving open spaces 17. This matrix is also constructed of straw, sea grass or similar material and is steamed previous to being placed over thehat.

When the hat and matrix are in position onthe die 8, the die is raised and forced into the-die 9 where it is left for a predetermined time after which the hat is taken from the press and the matrix removed. This operation gives the hat its finalshape and due to'the fact-that the matrix is provided with openings the material out of which the hat is formedand which is surrounded by the material out of which the matrix is formed does not receive any pressure, since it does not come in contact with the die 9 neither ils that portion held as tightly against the tie 8. a i I WVhile the hatis 'in the press the strands of material out of which the matrix is formed exert pressure on the hat and flatten the material out of which the same is formed. while that portion which is underneath the openings formed in the matrix retains its original shape, or in other words the exterior surface has a plurality of intersecting grooves pressed therein. These grooves may be irregular as to width and Thus when a hat is finished and the matrix removed it has a rough outer surface as illustrated in Fig. 3, while the interior surface is smooth as illustrated in same figure. It is understood of. course, that the material out of which the hat is woven is round or nearly so and capable of being compressed when pressed in the forming machine.

I-Ieretofore body hats when pressed were made smooth on both sides that is, the material out of which they were formed was pressed flat, this made a flimsy looking hat and one in which there was great danger of scorching or sapping the life out of the fibers from which the hatwas constructed, thus manning ii; to. break quickly. This feature was especially true in the cheaper .grade of hats, such as harvest hats and the like and where an ornamental hat was desired, it required a special weave of the body hat. By the use of my method ordinary Woven body hats can be ornamentedand made to appear as attractive as the more expensive special weave hats without greatly increasing the cost of manufacture.

it is of course to be understood that if desired, the hat can be dyed any color, this, however, is done before pressing the hat. Aft-er the h-at has been formed, the rim 18 may be out off and the brim bound, this of course,being optional and depending entirely upon the style and finish it desired to igiveto the hat.

1 do not desire to limit myself to the precise structure of matrix as shown as this may be changed from time to time to bring out different designs. 7

The great advantage of my device in usinga straw or grass matrix is, that it is inexpensive and a single matrix can be used to inake "quite-a few hats, in fact, if desired, I can use a new matrix for each hat and by trimming up the matrix, also utilize the same for hats. 1

According to my improvement I can proluce woven body straw hats having the appearance of expensive hats. The hat thus forined is stronger and more serviceable, arisingfrom the fact that the entire surface of the hat is not subjected to a high temperwturein the pressing operation and neither is all subjected to pressure. As-previously pointed out the matrix should be formed of a relatively soft fibrous material so that in the pressing operation it will not break or injure the hat fiber.

A very important feature of my improvement is that in ornamentingthe hat, the

fibers of which the same is const-ructeda-renot placed under any strain, in other words,

certainportions of the fibers are flattened while the remainder retains its original form. My method is in nowise embossing as this places a strain on the material which my method eliminates.

I can also use my method for ornamenting sewed braid stra'w hats and making plain braid straw hats have the appearance of an trix simultaneously to heat and pressure fora predetermined length of time, releasing said pressure, and lastly removing said matrix whereby the exterior of said hat body is provided with an ornamental surface.

2. The method of ornamenting straw hats which consists in steaming a woven straw hat body to as to render the same soft and pliable,

steaming an open weave matrix of substantially the same size. and shape as'the hat body, placing said matrix over saidhat body, subjecting said matrix to pressure so as to force the same into the exterior surface ofysaid hat body and simultaneously therewith supporting said hat body on its inner surface to prevent said body from collapsing, and lastly removing said matrix whereby the exterior surface of said hat body provided with a plurality of smooth intersecting grooves and rough UIIPIGSSBCl portions between said grooves;

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspecification.

EDWARD WITTGOFF. 

